| Team Name: | Ohio Aviators |
| Fullname: | Ohio Aviators |
| Union: | USA Rugby |
| Location: | Obetz, Ohio, U.S. |
| Founded: | 2016 |
| Ground: | Fortress Obetz |
| Capacity: | 6,500 |
| Top Scorer: | Shaun Davies (84) |
| Most Tries: | Spike Davis (14) |
| Coach: | Paule Barford |
| Url: | https://www.ohioaviators10s.com |
| League: | PRO Rugby (2016) World Tens Series (2020-present) |
| Season: | 2016 |
| Pattern La1: | _Ohioleft |
| Pattern B1: | _Ohiokit |
| Pattern Ra1: | _Ohioright |
| Shorts1: | BEC1C6 |
| Socks1: | 1B3E90 |
| Pattern La2: | _Ohioleftb |
| Pattern B2: | _Ohiokitb |
| Pattern Ra2: | _Ohiorightb |
| Shorts2: | BEC1C6 |
| Socks2: | 1B3E90 |
The Ohio Aviators are an American rugby union team that played professionally in the short lived PRO Rugby competition. They are based in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area, and played their home games at Memorial Park in Obetz, Ohio. They are now playing in the newly formed World Tens Series.
PRO Rugby announced on February 9, 2016 the addition of Columbus, Ohio as the league's third team.[1] The selection of Columbus came as somewhat of a surprise, because the original PRO Rugby announcement in November 2015 did not mention that the competition planned to place a team in the midwest in the inaugural season.[2] Ohio's inaugural season home opener was played on May 1, 2016.[3] PRO Rugby revealed the team's nickname — the Ohio Aviators — on June 6, 2016, a reference to the Wright brothers who were from Ohio.[4]
On September 9, 2020, the Aviators announced on their Instagram page their return to participate in the World Tens Series, occurring from October 24 through November 7, 2020 in Bermuda.[5]
The Aviators during the 2016 season played their home games at Memorial Park in Obetz, a suburb of the Columbus metropolitan area. The Aviators planned to move to Fortress Obetz, on the site of the former Columbus Motor Speedway, starting with the 2017 season.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
On December 20, 2016 all PRO Rugby players received notice their contracts will be terminated in 30 days if progress is not made towards resolving disputes between the league and USA Rugby.[11]
The squad for the 2016 PRO Rugby season:[12]
| Ohio roster | ||
|---|---|---|
Props
Hookers
Locks
| Loose forwards
Scrum-halves Fly-halves
| Centers
Wingers
Fullbacks
|
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped. |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Paule Barford |
| Assistant coach | Paul Holmes |
| Assistant coach | Eamonn Hogan |
The squad for the 2020 World Tens Series:[13]
| Ohio roster | |
|---|---|
Forwards
| Backs
|
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped. |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Taylor Howden |
| Assistant coach | Kane Thompson |
| Manager | Zach Stryffeler |
| Medical Director | Richard Quincy |
| Director | Tom Rooney |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 25, 2020 | Phoenix | Won, 26-0 | |
| October 25, 2020 |  Rhinos | Lost, 0-12 | |
| October 25, 2020 | London Royals | Lost, 10-11 | |
| October 26, 2020 | Won, 11–10 | ||
| October 26, 2020 | Lost, 10–11 | ||
| November 2, 2020 | Rhinos | Won, 11–10 | |
| November 2, 2020 | Phoenix | Won, 22–0 | |
| November 2, 2020 | Lost, 16–20 | ||
| November 3, 2020 | London Royals | Lost, 12–13 | |
| November 3, 2020 | Lost, 17–17 | ||
| November 3, 2020 | SX10 | Won, 14–10 | |
| November 7, 2020 Quarterfinal | Won, 26–5 | ||
| November 7, 2020 Semifinal | London Royals | Won, 12–7 | |
| November 7, 2020 Final | SX10 | Lost, 14–21 | |
| Season | Captain | Most tries | Most points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spike Davis (14) | Shaun Davies (84) | ||
| Coach | Tenure | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Winning Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 75% | ||
| Taylor Howden | 2020–present | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 50% |
